Beijing's long and illustrious history began some 500,000 years ago with cave dwellers inhabiting an area southwest of the city. However, records show that Beijing was first settled more than three thousand years ago. Since then the capital has endured countless invasions, devastating fires, and the rise and fall of numerous imperial dynasties. Perhaps as a testament to Chinese civilization's unique strength and energy, Beijing has emerged time and time again as a strong and vibrant city. For more than 800 years, Beijing has been a capital city - from the Yuan (1279-1368AD) Dynasty to the Ming (1368-1644AD) and Qing (1644-1911AD) dynasties. Thirty-four emperors have lived and ruled the nation from Beijing. Tourists can experience 'old Beijing' by exploring its many teahouses, temples, labyrinth-like hutongs (traditional alleyways), distinct courtyard homes, and still have enough time to enjoy a Peking Opera performance and sample some delicious .
The Forbidden City is the largest and the best-preserved palace complex in the world. It has 9,999 rooms – one number shy of 'Divine Perfection,' a belief rooted in ancient Chinese thought. Adding to the palace's mystique and impenetrability is its six-meter-deep moat and ten-meter high walls. In front of the Forbidden City lies the famed Tian An Men Square , the largest central city square in the world. The square is surrounded by a variety of important buildings and monuments like the Chinese National Museum , the Chairman Mao Mausoleum , the Great Hall of the People ,the elegant Tian An Men , and the Front Gate.
A trip to Beijing is far from complete without a visit to the Great Wall . The famed Wall is one of the 'Seven Wonders of the World'and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The Wall stretches over an impressive 6,350 km (3,945 miles) from the Bohai Gulf in the east, to Lop Nur in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the west. Climbing the wall isn't for the faint of heart, however. The Wall's apparent greatness is one of the many reasons for the Chinese saying, 'You're not a real man if you haven't climbed the Great Wall .'
Another site worth visiting is the Temple of Heaven . Built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the temple and its surrounding park were designed as a place to worship the divine power of heaven.
The Summer Palace is another must see. Located in northwestern Beijing and famous for its immense park, the site has been a breathtakingly beautiful royal garden for some time. Beijing also contains many other spectacular parks like Beihai Park , allegedly built by the Great Khan. Beihai has likewise been a pleasure garden for China's rulers for hundreds of years. But outside of the capital's tranquil parks is a vibrant, modern city filled with towering skyscrapers, busy shopping malls and a seemingly endless variety of restaurants.
Beijing's nightlife is also rich and varied. For those in search of activities with a definite Chinese flavour, Beijing Opera, acrobatics and martial arts displays are easily accessible. Modern concerts, fine dining, pubs and clubs are also part of the city's dazzling entertainment scene.
Beijing is now gearing up for the 2008 Olympics, an event heatedly anticipated around the world. City officials—and, indeed, all of China—are aiming to wow the globe with spectacular new sports facilities and bold infrastructure developments.
As the capital, Beijing is a melting pot of China's many unique culinary traditions. Traditional Beijing dishes like and still appear on local menus; however, more subtle Cantonese and fiery Sichuan dishes, to name only a few, have also become a mainstay. In addition, there are many restaurants that serve excellent foreign cuisine. All in all, Beijing is a gourmet's paradise with establishments catering to all tastes. But tradition dictates two things must be done while wandering around the capital: first, eating Beijing's signature roast duck is in order. Second, visitors are strongly advised to take a stroll on the Great Wall .
Last but not least, Beijing's 'Four Famous Representative Arts' are decorative enamel, known as cloisonn (Jingtailan), ivory carving (Yadiao), jade objects (Yuqi) and carved lacquerware (Qidiao). Some of the best areas in Beijing to find traditional crafts are Wangfujing Pedestrian Street and Qianmen Street as well as markets like Panjiayuan and Hongqiao. Xidan Commercial Street and Dongsi Street are also great places to shop if you're looking for modern apparel.
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